How The News Media Distorts The Global Warming Debate: The Norfolk Drought Is Natural

DOES the news media distort the debate on global warming? Yes. That drought in the East of England is natural. It’s the weather, stoopid. The New Scientist sums up:

ADD one more to the list: after the driest spring in more than 20 years, parts of eastern England are officially in a state of drought, according to the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This comes hard on the heels of some of the worst droughts on record across the globe, from Texas toChina.

While global warming is an obvious suspect, there’s no evidence that it is to blame…

Martin Hoerling at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says:

As for the apparent convergence of droughts worldwide, Mark Saunders of University College London says current conditions aren’t that unusual. News media may simply be more tuned in to reporting extreme weather events.